Testosterone plays an important role in your physical and mental health. Elevated levels of this hormone cause unwanted hair growth and feelings of aggression. Ovarian and adrenal tumors sometimes cause these symptoms in women, according to a May 2009 report in "Gynecological Endocrinology." Nutritional supplements -- available over the counter -- can reduce excess testosterone. These dietary aids may cause unwanted side effects. Speak with a doctor before taking supplements.
Adlay
Chinese healers use the grain adlay, Coix lacryma-jobi, to treat a variety of ailments. This supplement might eventually prove effective in the battle against cancer, according to a June 2011 report in "Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases International." The mechanisms underlying these effects remain unknown, but they may involve hormonal changes as adlay affects the endocrine system. An experiment described in the May 2009 issue of "Phytotherapy Research" looked at the grain's effect on testosterone production. Rat testicular cells were exposed to the adlay extracts or to an inert substance during a single testing session. Cells incubated with the grain produced less testosterone than those incubated with a placebo. Adlay did not damage the cells.
Ryegrass
Supplement makers promote ryegrass, Lolium perenne, as a way to improve prostate health. Little scientific data supports these claims, but an October 2006 article in the "Journal of Dairy Science" showed that ryegrass alters the milk production of dairy cows. The latter finding suggests ryegrass has endocrine effects. A 1990 book titled "Animal Disorders Arising From Consumption of Pasture" describes studies showing that ryegrass decreases testosterone in bulls and rams. The bulls also showed a reduction in lean body mass.
Chasteberry
Some older women use chasteberry, Vitex agnus-castus, to treat menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes. The conclusions of an August 2009 review in the "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine" support this application. These authors suggest that chasteberry achieves these effects by altering reproductive steroids like testosterone. An investigation published in the July 2007 edition of the "Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences" tested this hypothesis in laboratory animals. Male mice received a one-time injection of either chasteberry or saline. Relative to controls, treated mice had lower levels of both luteinizing hormone and testosterone. No evidence of chasteberry-related toxicity was observed.
Spearmint
Ancient cultures used mint both as a food enhancer and as a herbal remedy. Modern researchers have started documenting the latter effects. Spearmint, Mentha spicata, enhances brain oxidation causing a reduction in sex steroid production, according to a December 2008 report in "Food and Chemical Toxicology." This work -- done in animals -- suggests that spearmint should reduce testosterone in humans. A clinical trial offered in the February 2010 edition of "Phytotherapy Research" evaluated this idea in patients with ovary disease. The participants drank the spearmint tea or an inert substance twice daily for 30 days. Spearmint tea reduced testosterone as predicted, but it surprisingly enhanced follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. The women did not experience significant side effects.
References
- "Gynecological Endocrinology"; New Onset Alopecia and Hirsutism in a Postmenopausal Women; Annette Buhler-Christen, et al.; May 2009
- "Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases International"; Hepatocellular Carcinoma HepG2 Cell Apoptosis and Caspase-8 and Bcl-2 Expression Induced by Injectable Seed Extract of Coix Lacryma-Jobi; Yun Lu, et al.; June 2011
- "Phytotherapy Research"; Effect of Adlay (Coix Lachryma-Jobi L. var. Ma-Yuen Stapf.) Hull Extracts on Testosterone Release From Rat Leydig Cells; Shih-Min Hsia, et al.; May 2009
- "Journal of Dairy Science"; Influence of Grass-Based Diets on Milk Fatty Acid Composition and Milk Lipolytic System in Tarentaise and Montbeliarde Cow Breeds; Anne Ferlay, et al.; October 2006
- "Animal Disorders Arising From Consumption of Pasture"; A.S. Familton; 1990
- "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine"; Vitex Agnus-Castus (Chaste-Tree/Berry) in the Treatment of Menopause-Related Complaints; Diana Van Die, et al.; August 2009
